Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, Priest
Intention: That God will continue to bless us the Lasallian Family with opportunities to serve all persons, especially those most in need, and to help build a more compassionate and just world.
Today’s Gospel | Mark 10:13-16
People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Then he embraced the children and blessed them, placing his hands on them.
From the Ninth Meditation for the Time of Retreat | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
The zeal you are obliged to have in your work must be so active and so alive that you can tell the parents of the children entrusted to your care what is said in Holy Scripture: Give us their souls; keep everything else for yourselves, that is, what we have undertaken is to work for the salvation of their souls. It is also the only reason you have committed yourselves to take the responsibility to guide and to instruct them.
Tell the parents also what Jesus Christ said about the sheep of which he is the shepherd and which must be saved by him: I came, he said, that they might have life and have it to the full. For this had to have been the kind of ardent zeal you felt for the salvation of those you must instruct when you were led to sacrifice yourselves and to spend your whole life to give these children a Christian education and to procure for them the life of grace in this world and eternal life in the next.
Prayer
Eternal Father, your Son often would call his disciples to accept and love the children in their midst. As we follow him, help us to know our children, to see and understand both their gifts and their needs. May we be the hands and voice of your patience, companionship, healing, and empowerment. We pray that we will be caring, vigilant, and loving mentors to the children of our world. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.